precarious
8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for precarious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Not safe or stable; likely to fail or collapse at any moment.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use precarious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
precarious position
precarious balance
precarious situation
Etymology
From Latin "precarius," meaning "obtained by begging" or "depending on another's favor," from "prex" ("prayer" or "request") — the idea being that something granted at another's whim could be taken away just as easily.
Full origin of precarious →Frequently asked questions
What does “precarious” mean?
The word “precarious” means not safe or stable; likely to fail or collapse at any moment. In plain terms, shaky, unstable, or risky — something that could easily go wrong or fall apart.
How do you pronounce “precarious”?
“Precarious” is pronounced prih-KEH-uh-ree-uhs (/pɹɪˈkɛəɹi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “precarious” in a sentence?
Here is “precarious” used in a sentence: “The old ladder left him in a precarious position on the roof.”
What part of speech is “precarious”?
“Precarious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “precarious” come from?
The word “precarious” comes from Latin. From Latin "precarius," meaning "obtained by begging" or "depending on another's favor," from "prex" ("prayer" or "request") — the idea being that something granted at another's whim could be taken away just as easily.
Is “precarious” a common word?
“Precarious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
